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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

How has the role of the teacher changed when a student can Google anything? That’s what three colleagues (@eileen_lennon, @JPatanio, @DarlynnAlfalla) and I discussed with participants at this year’s #Educon. We discussed with participants what we could expect to see more or less of in the age of Google as well as the new vs traditional roles.

Friday, January 27, 2017

“You don’t need to teach us. That’s what Google is for.” That was the message a student shared with a surprised audience of educators during a popular technology conference. The students went on to say, “If I can't figure something out I prefer to watch a YouTube video or text a friend rather than ask a teacher.” The other students in the room nodded their heads in agreement.

Many teachers understand this is how today’s students prefer to learn, but what does that look like?

As danah boyd recently shared on her site, “too many students I met were being told that Wikipedia was untrustworthy and were, instead, being encouraged to do research. As a result, the message that many had taken home was to turn to Google and use whatever came up first. They heard that Google was trustworthy and Wikipedia was not.”Here's what happen when you do that.

Video created at EduCon 2.9

The role of teaching, learning, and professional learning has, or should, change for teachers in the age of Google? Today with alternative facts and fake news it is more important than ever for our students to understand, that while Google is a useful source, knowledgeable educators are there to help them determine which sources are credible and how to find safely find experts and peers to make up a valuable learning network.

This is the topic I will be discussing this weekend at Educon with my #NYCSchoolsTech edusistas, Eileen Lennon, Jackie Patanio, and Darlynn Alfalla. We will share some of the shifts we’ve seen and then discuss with participants how they have, or can, embrace new roles for modern teaching.

Alternative Mount Rushmore

Visit this post Saturday afternoon where we’ll share a link to a livestream of our session.

Here are some of the resources that we reviewed to prepare for the session:

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Twitter, Facebook and livestreaming can all help teachers be the 'storytellers in chief' of school life...

Whether or not you believe America’s president should be freewheeling it on Twitter, it appears that we can expect this to continue as he takes office. Donald Trump said to Matt Lauer on the Today Show that, "Frankly, it's a modern form of communication.” He explained: "I get it out much faster than a press release” and “much more honestly than dealing with dishonest reporters”.

Trump gets what research from Ipsos has shown. When it comes to millennials, they almost always trust and remember user generated content on social media over what they see in the mainstream media.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Note: Twitter won't let you Tweet my blog url. Please use this shortened url instead http://tinyurl.com/filteringdivideIt used to be that 1:1 technology access was a novelty. Today, with Chromebooks, it is less expensive to give each child a device than it is to provide all the resources that device provides (i.e. pen, paper, notebooks, ruler, calculator, reading material, drawing materials, etc.). Furthermore with companies like Neverware which can turn most any old device into a high-speed Chromebook, cost and tech support are no longer the barriers they once were. Modern school districts have noticed that the cost of providing each child a device is no longer a hurdle. They also understand that Chromebooks last as long and are as sturdy as traditional laptops and despite the myth, they realize, just like laptops, you don’t need the internet to access your core suite of tools.

What remains are the two biggest barriers most public schools and districts struggle with and must find a way to overcome to prepare children for success:

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Discover the favorite tools this year for #NYCSchoolsTech educators. Then, get inspired to come up with an idea for one tool you can bring back to your work to make teaching or learning more effective.

Join us for our 9th monthly Twitter chat at 6:00 pm EST. #NYCSchoolTech teacher Eileen Lennon moderates with me throwing in my two cents. We will also be joined by some leading ed tech companies who will share what you can look forward to in 2017.

You can prepare for the conversation by thinking about answers to these questions:

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

You've probably heard the saying that before passing judgement, you should try to understand what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes. This is an important concept when helping students learn empathy. Interestingly, social media platforms such as Facebook can give you insight into what life is like in someone else's shoes. At least the version of their shoes they choose to wear in public.

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Getting fit is a great resolution at any age, but the holiday season in the digital age often brings with it lots of gifts that involve sitting with a device with little movement. But technology doesn’t always = inactivity. This New Year teachers and students together can resolve to use technology to help them get and stay fit using GoNoodle. Go Noodle is used by 1 in 3 teachers who get millions of kids active every month to become their strongest, smartest, selves by running, dancing, stretching, and practicing emotional awareness at school with short, easy-to-follow videos.

This is especially important in districts where the cold winter months can result in indoor recess and lunch times keeping movement limited. But it doesn’t end with movement. Research shows that keeping kids moving helps improve behavior and attention, increases academic performance, and strengthens classroom cohesion.

“ Amazing and useful technology that is super easy to use, beautifully designed, and crazy engaging. I love it, my students love it, my kids love it, my principal loves it, it is a hit! A must use tool for any classroom, or living room! ” - Koda L, Elementary School Teacher

There are also videos to go along with common class time activities and occurrences such as birthdays or clean up time. This poster (click to download) shares five ways to use GoNoodle:

It doesn’t have to end at school either. There is an entire home platform that families can use with their children to turn screen time into active time, get families healthier, and have fun.

“ My kid used to be a little girl who sat and played video games and now she can exercise at the same time so I thank you and your company this is just amazing you turned my child's life around. -Hailey B, Parent

So what do you think? Is this something you’d use in your classroom? What do you think or have you experienced are the benefits and/or hidden treasures in using such a platform. Any advice or questions?